Single Idea 18344

[catalogued under 3. Truth / B. Truthmakers / 1. For Truthmakers]

If something is true, then it would not be possible for it to be false unless either certain things were to exist which don't, or else certain things had not existed which do.

Gist of Idea

Truth and falsehood must track what does or doesn't exist

Source

John Bigelow (The Reality of Numbers [1988], 19)

Book Reference

Bigelow,John: 'The Reality of Numbers' [OUP 1988], p.133

A Reaction

This is described by Rami as Bigelow's 'famous' formulation of the idea that 'truth supervenes on being' in a general way. An immediate question would be about fictions. Is Malvolio a stupid man, given that he doesn't exist? We must stretch 'exist'.